Long Beach officials will continue monitoring high surf and the threat of coastal flooding Monday in the aftermath of Post-Tropical Cyclone Rachel, following weekend evacuations and damage to several waterfront structures along the Alamitos Peninsula.
“While the peak timing for the most impactful coastal flooding has passed, there is still a threat of minor to moderate coastal flooding through Tuesday, due to continued high tides and elevated to high surf,” the National Weather Service said Sunday.
Coastal flood warnings were downgraded to advisories Sunday afternoon, with an advisory remaining in effect until 2 p.m. Tuesday for Los Angeles County beaches.
Morning high tides of 7 to 7.5 feet are expected Monday and Tuesday, with elevated surf gradually subsiding over the next several days, according to the NWS.
Mayor Rex Richardson announced Saturday evening that eight structures across 13 addresses had been red-tagged and another structure was yellow-tagged after waves pounded a portion of the Long Beach waterfront beginning Friday, in an area already battered by coastal erosion.
A red tag indicates that a structure is unsafe to be occupied, while a yellow tag allows a property owner to enter temporarily to retrieve belongings but prohibits occupancy until the building is deemed structurally safe.
Homes in the 6400 and 6500 blocks of Seaside Walk remained under mandatory evacuation orders Sunday evening, while evacuation advisories were lifted for most other Peninsula residents, including those on Naples Island and Treasure Island, according to city officials.
The city announced at 6:15 p.m. Sunday that the broader advisories had been lifted, but evacuation warnings remained in effect for Peninsula residents on 64th, 65th and 66th places south of Ocean Boulevard, as well as homes in the 6200, 6300, 6600 and 6700 blocks of Seaside Walk.
The Peninsula remained closed to nonresidents, with street closures beginning at 62nd Place. Residents and visitors were urged to avoid damaged coastal infrastructure and follow directions from emergency personnel.
Some sand berms built after a previous round of high surf were washed away in spots over the weekend. Damage was visible to the boardwalk, with debris floating offshore as waves washed around and beneath waterfront homes.
City officials said 10,000 sandbags had been distributed to residents preparing for the storm, and urged residents and businesses to keep their sandbags for possible future storms. Sand and sandbag distribution sites were also activated at fire stations throughout Long Beach.
The city developed a seven-point plan to strengthen protection of the Alamitos Peninsula, including repairing damaged infrastructure, replenishing beach sand, creating additional protective barriers and pursuing longer-term coastal protection projects and funding, officials said.
City Manager Tom Modica told reporters Saturday that crews had begun moving 45,000 cubic yards of sand to add 200 feet of width to the storm-battered beach.
That work is expected to be followed the week of Oct. 19 by a project to add another 50,000 to 100,000 cubic yards of sand to the beach, followed by construction of a new low-profile rock abutment. Much of the funding for the projects would come from Tidelands funds, according to Modica.
Officials said construction-grade cranes were being used to lift sandbags weighing more than 3,000 pounds into place to support the seawall.
The 42nd annual Long Beach Marathon was held Sunday despite the coastal flooding threat, with approximately 1 1/2 miles of the course rerouted away from the beachfront because of elevated tides and hazardous oceanfront conditions.
The weather service warned that coastal flooding could damage beach roads and structures, particularly around morning high tides, while continued high surf could cause additional beach erosion.
Large breaking waves also pose a danger to beachgoers and could sweep people off beaches and rocks, while strong rip currents remain a hazard.
Meanwhile, the remnants of Rachel largely moved out of the region Sunday afternoon, leaving only scattered showers in Los Angeles County.
A sharp upper-level trough moving into California overnight was expected to bring another round of showers Monday, with coastal and valley areas potentially receiving a tenth to a quarter-inch of rain, according to the NWS.
Forecasters said a quarter-inch to a half-inch of rain could fall in parts of Los Angeles County, including the mountains, with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Higher mountain elevations could receive a couple of inches of snow.
Long Beach officials urged residents and visitors to stay off beaches, coastal walkways and vulnerable roads and structures, and warned motorists not to drive around barricades or through floodwaters of unknown depth.
City officials said crews would continue monitoring coastal conditions and assessing damage.
Residents were encouraged to register for emergency notifications through Alert Long Beach at AlertLB.com and monitor updates at longbeach.gov/emergency.